Current Scholars

The U-RISE program currently supports 9 students. 2 to 4 new students are selected each year, at the end of their freshman year, to become a U-RISE scholar.

People

Ann Austin

Ann Austin is a senior biomedical engineering student at NJIT and a researcher at Advanced Biofabrication Lab. She is a part of U-RISE Fellowship and is interested in continuing her graduate studies in pharmaceutical engineering.

Allison Harbolic

Allison Harbolic is a senior biology major with minors in chemistry and psychology. She works under Dr. Genoa Warner in the Laboratory of Endocrine Disruption and Chemical Biology (EDC lab). Her project aims to understand the impacts of plastics and their additives on placental formation and function. She is interested in the relationship between environmental contaminants on the development of the placenta and ultimately the fetus. 

James John

James is a third-year biomedical-engineering student working under the mentorship of Dr. Bryan Pfister. His project focused on acute neuronal degeneration following repeated blast and mild blunt traumatic brain injuries (TBI). His previous project examined microglial response and cell death. For his future work, he’ll be looking into glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and their contribution to neuronal degeneration and loss.

Gabrielle Uskach

Hi everyone! I am a third-year Biochemistry major with a minor in Environmental Science and Policy in the Albert Dorman Honors College. I am currently a researcher in the Advanced Biofabrication Lab and CIBM3, where I am developing my skills and passion for nerve regeneration research and tissue engineering. The U-RISE program stood out to me because of its unparalleled support and guidance, which I know will help me build a strong foundation for my academic and professional journey. I am incredibly excited to see where the next few years will take me.

Ashley Jacas

Ashley Jacas is a junior biochemistry major. She works under Dr. Alexander Buffone in the Buffone Laboratory of Cellular Motion. Her research focuses on studying the morphology and movement of liver cells to understand how cellular structure contributes to cancer progression and metastatic potential. She is interested in the intersection of immunology and endocrinology, particularly how immune mechanisms influence disease development and can be utilized for therapeutic treatments.

Gabriela Evora

Gabriela Evora is a third-year biomedical engineering student with a strong interest in biomechanics. As U-Rise is guiding her, Gabriela is currently developing her research skills as she is passionate about exploring the mechanics of the human body to improve medical technologies. She is particularly interested in how biomechanics can be applied to prosthetics, rehabilitation, and movement analysis. She is eager to continue meeting new people, expanding her knowledge and experience in the field, and intending to contribute to innovative solutions in healthcare. 

Angel Reyes

Angel is a sophomore mechanical engineering student with an interest in biomimetic engineering. He works under Dr. Brooke Flammang in the Fluid Locomotion Laboratory at NJIT. He is interested in creating a remora inspired medical adhesive that maintains its integrity under different environmental conditions.

Andrew Jiang

Andrew is a sophomore mechanical engineering student in the Albert Dorman Honors College. He is working under the guidance of Dr. Eon Soo Lee in the Advanced Energy Systems and Microdevices Laboratory. His project focuses on developing a biosensor for cancer and disease detection.

Mariam Ali

Mariam is a second-year biochemistry major with a minor in chemistry in the Albert Dorman Honors College. She is working under Dr. Genoa Warner in the Laboratory of Endocrine Disruption and Chemical Biology (EDC lab). She is currently studying the molecular impacts of plastics and their additives on gene expression in the placenta. Her interests lie in further studying the intersection of endocrinology and toxicology.